Pyric Salamander MTG Card

Pyric Salamander excels in creating card advantage and can decisively influence board control. Its low casting cost and instant speed ability offer tactical flexibility during the game. Although powerful, it demands specific red mana and can be less efficient than alternatives.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Salamander
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	187
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Tony Roberts

Text of card

oo R +1/+0 until end of turn. Bury Pyric Salamander at end of turn.

When you've been chased by a dragon, you run from every lizard. —Suq'Ata saying

Cards like Pyric Salamander

Pyric Salamander offers an interesting dynamic to creature cards in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It’s often weighed against other one-mana red creatures, such as Goblin Guide, which stands out for providing immediate aggressive pressure. However, Pyric Salamander brings its own flair with the ability to boost its power, potentially making it a larger threat over time.

In comparison, we can look at Monastery Swiftspear, a card that also thrives in fast-paced, spell-heavy decks. While the Swiftspear excels in prowess, the Salamander’s strength lies in its repeatable power increase. Raging Goblin, another equivalent, enables haste, but lacks the Pyric Salamander’s capacity for growth during the match. This incremental advantage can be crucial in the later stages of the game.

To sum up, Pyric Salamander may not initially seem as impactful as some of its peers, but under the right circumstances, it becomes a formidable threat that can outdo its one-drop counterparts, carving its own niche in burn and aggressive-style decks within Magic: The Gathering.

Monastery Swiftspear - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pyric Salamander by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyric Salamander can have a considerable impact on card advantage in your game. When played strategically, this card enables you to outpace your opponent with an additional creature on the board that may require immediate attention, shifting the game’s momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While the Pyric Salamander itself doesn’t directly generate resources, its low casting cost helps maintain your pace in resource management, allowing for a quicker buildup of your board presence and the ability to cast more impactful spells sooner.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Pyric Salamander’s power boost at instant speed adds a layer of tactical advantage. This can lead to beneficial combat tricks or surprise blocks that may not only preserve your life total but also give you the upper hand in creature exchanges during combat phases.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With Pyric Salamander’s ability necessitating the discarding of a card, this can often place players in a tricky predicament, especially when available options in hand are vital for maintaining board presence or executing strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s activation requires not just any mana but a specific red mana. This can be quite restrictive, pigeonholing it into specific deck archetypes or limiting its inclusion to decks that can consistently generate the necessary mana color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the cost invested to get Pyric Salamander on the field and to activate its ability, players may find that there are alternatives that provide similar or better effects without such a steep investment, making it less appealing in a competitive setting where efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include Pyric Salamander in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyric Salamander brings a dynamic element to decks that capitalize on sacrifice triggers and power boosts. Its ability to increase in strength under specific conditions makes it flexible for various gameplay phases.

Combo Potential: Building around the Salamander’s ability to pump up its power offers a multitude of interactions. It enables explosive turns, especially in decks that manipulate +1/+1 counters or have benefits tied to high power creatures.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape is ever-changing, having a creature like Pyric Salamander which can quickly adapt and pose a significant threat can give players an edge. Its presence on the board is particularly pertinent in metas with plenty of targets for its triggered ability.

How to beat Pyric Salamander

Mastering the battlefield in MTG often means knowing how to tackle specific threats like Pyric Salamander. This fiery creature can be a nuisance if left unchecked, given its ability to gain a temporary power boost. While small in stature, its potential to grow stronger each turn couples well with decks that aim to play multiple spells in quick succession. This can rapidly turn the tide in your opponent’s favor if you’re unprepared.

To counter this salamander’s heat, consider employing strategies that remove creatures from play before they become too much to handle. Instant-speed removal spells are especially effective, as they allow you to wait until your opponent has committed mana to activating Pyric Salamander’s ability. Timing your spells right can lead to a mana-inefficient turn for your opponent. Additionally, playing cards that limit the number of spells each player can cast per turn would stifle the salamander’s capabilities, curbing its fiery ambitions before they flare out of control.

Ultimately, victory in MTG often lies in adaptation and timely responses. By understanding Pyric Salamander’s strengths and vulnerabilities, you craft a game plan that addresses the threat head-on, ensuring you maintain control over the state of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyric Salamander MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Pyric Salamander and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyric Salamander has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal